Polar Diet Tonic Water

Polar Diet Tonic Water is a sugar-free carbonated tonic mixer, sold here in the soda water and mixers aisle. It is built for spirits rather than for drinking alone. The product details don't list a flavor profile, bottle size, or sweetener, so what follows describes diet tonics as a style. Expect a crisp bitter edge from quinine, a light citrus lift, and a dry, clean finish with less sweetness than a regular tonic. Diet versions often carry a slightly sharper, more astringent bitterness because there is no sugar to round it off. That makes them a good fit for dry spirits. The classic use is a gin and tonic. Pour 2 oz of London dry gin over plenty of ice, then add 4 to 5 oz of chilled tonic. That is roughly a 1:2 ratio, which you can stretch to 1:3 for a lighter drink. Junipery gins work best, and a wedge of lime or a strip of grapefruit peel brings out the citrus in both. Vodka and tonic with lemon is a cleaner, more neutral option. Tonic also works with blanco tequila and lime, with white rum, and as a long mixer for aromatic bitter liqueurs and dry vermouth. Serve the tonic well chilled, and keep the bottle in the fridge so you don't need extra ice to cool it. Open it just before pouring. Pour gently down the inside of the glass, or down a bar spoon, and stir once at most. Hard stirring knocks out the carbonation, and a diet tonic tends to taste flat quickly once it loses its fizz. Use fresh, hard ice and fill the glass to the top. Plenty of cold ice melts more slowly and keeps the drink sharp to the last sip. For glassware, a large balloon (copa) glass suits a gin and tonic because it holds the aromatics and lets you add a lot of ice. A tall highball or Collins glass suits vodka or rum mixes. As for food, the bitterness and carbonation cut through salty, fried, or rich dishes. Good matches include olives, salted nuts, fish and chips, ceviche, oysters, and soft cheeses.